Thursday 4th May 07 - Ray Davies at the Grand Opera House, York
By Joe Malarky

A familiar gap toothed grin greeted the assembled audience of the bijou
Grand Opera House in York.

Ray Davies, founder member of The Kinks, original mod and songwriter par
excellence, stood and smiled as the rest of his band took their places alongside him.
The familiar punchy chords of 'I'm not like everybody else' rang out and the
tone of the evening was established loud and clear.

Davies featured songs from an illustrious career including his most recent
album Other Peoples Lives.
Every one of his songs is memorable because it tells a story or paints a
picture and this is the art of his craft.

Ray Davies is a fine performer too and with a very tight band for support
he was able to do every song justice.

He enjoys playing live, that much is clear.
From the way he launches himself into the music or the banter he shares
with the audience, he is a consummate performer.

The audience enjoyed a trip through his entire back catalogue with
highlights along the way.
He recalled how the Kinks nearly stalled at the start when record company
men balked at his brother Dave's guitar sound on All Day and All Of The Night.

The Muswell Hillbillies reflected life growing up in north London and
Come Dancing was inspired by his sister's frequent trips with friends to
the local Palais.

Ray Davies has lead a rich and varied life and despite setbacks along the
way including being shot while living in New Orleans, he continues to
enjoy his work and looks forward to the future.

He hinted at reconciliation with his brother, Dave and the possibility of
reforming the Kinks in order to tour. Could this be yet another twist for
the master tunesmith?

A superb rendition of Lola brought everyone to their feet and signaled the
demand for two encores culminating in fine style with the classic
You Really Got Me. The audience went away completely satisfied and somewhat elated.

I was left to reflect that earlier in the evening Ray Davies belted out,
'I'm not like everybody else.' How right he is.

March saw Pure Techno, one of Hull's leading innovators and
celebrators of new electronic music celebrate its 3rd birthday at the Welly Club.
After the (really rather sad) demise of the Rhythm Room earlier in the year,
Pure Techno was forced to relocate its base of operations to the
Welly Club, the birthday celebrations on the
Read more...

Music Reviews, Galleries -
Live Music - March 07 - The Paddingtons Studio Demo Session By Darren Rogers

Sometimes we get photos without a review but they are just too good to miss out on publishing
so checkout this photo gallery of The Paddingtons March 07 - at
Studio Demo Session By Darren Rogers.
Checkout Darrens Featured Writers page here.
/writers/darrenrogers.htmlRead more...

Music Reviews - Lecorum at Dublin Castle, London By Rachel Sanderson

One band who really caught my eye when browsing myspace was Lecorum.
Having closely watched their progress over the last 6 months since they formed,
I thought it was about time to get down to a gig.
Seeing that they were playing just 5 minutes down the road from me, I figured this
would be the perfect opportunity.
Arriving at Dublin CastleRead more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 18th April 07 - The American Four Tops Motown Show At The Crown, Holderness Road, Hull By Jane Foster Photographs By Mo

Get Ready , cos here they come...The American Four Tops Motown Show at The Crown pub, Holderness Road. A perfect night for my first visit to The Crown
(Witham being as far as I'd previously ventured East for a night out).
I soon found that it exceeded my expectations.
The Crown is a large capacity venue built in the 1920s,
Read more...

Music Reviews - Monday 26th March 07 Karl and The Gimps Musicians Night Adelphi Hull By Michelle Dee Photos By The Gimps

Readers with a reasonably good memory will know that Karl Whiting received something close
to local cult status last year with his art work.
By the medium of pen and paper he produced on the spot drawings of live bands.
See some of his work here
/art/211914090_karlwhiting.html
His creative style is akin to the Scottish Colourists Movement, in that rather
than showing clear
Read more...

Music Reviews, Galleries - Friday 26th February 07 - We
Are Scientists at Asylum at Hull University By Kate Langan

Sometimes we get photos without a review but they are just too good to miss out on publishing
so checkout this brilliant photo gallery of We Are Scientists at Asylum
at Hull University By Kate Langanwww.katelanganphotography.co.ukRead more...

Music Reviews - Thursday 29th March 07 - Barenaked Ladies at Leeds University Union Words and photographs by Julia Grant

It only took us just over an hour of queuing in the cold to secure our place in the front row.
Tonight's show wasn't sold out, whilst back in the States the band can sell out stadiums no problem.
In a selfish sort of way, I kind of like that though.
Their talent and ability to put on one of the best shows you may ever see is somewhat of a secret
here in the UK,
Read more...

Music Reviews - Sunday 25th March 07 - The Horrors Plus Kreeps Club NME
At The Welly Hull By Michelle Dee Photographs by Kate Langan

Eerie spaced out keyboard intros, skull shaped guitar heads, electric skeleton double
bass, flutes saxophones and a Theremin?
These are just some of the elements that make up the demented sound of Kreeps.
The five piece stateside act, create stylized theatrical rock with multi
instrumentation that leaves you open mouthed in admiration.
Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 13th March 07 - Towers of London and Dance Bastards at The Welly By Sue Watson
Photographs by Kate Langan

The Dance Bastards are not your average band. For a start there are only 2 of them.
A female vocalist and a female guitarist, who augmented their offerings with a
synthesized backing track to produce an amazingly full sound.
The music was both hypnotic and repetitive, like early acid house only slower and less manic.
They were a brilliant opening act.
Read more...

Music Reviews - Friday 23rd March 07 Superscape And The Painted Sambas at The Adelphi By Michelle Dee Photos By Michelle Dee

Superscape have been around for many years in fact they were one of the very
first bands to appear on this site.
They dropped out of the gigging scene a while back, since then they have done the
occasional gig usually at the Adelphi.
Now they are having another go with two new members and a different sound.
First though, were one of the few original bands hailing
Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 17th March 07 - Turismo and The Johnsons at Yo-Yo at The Welly Club By Michelle Dee Turismo Photos by Rob Cranmer, Johnsons Photos by Gareth Jones

Down the front, groups of regulars from Tuesday's Sesh night dance to the Johnsons' opening number.
Among friends, I take my place stopping to greet DJ Priya and her right hand man Kristian.
It is St. Patrick's Day so I'm not sure what kind of crowd we're likely to get.
As it is the room quickly starts filling from the back and what was an open space
before the
Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 13th March 07 - Towers of London and Dance Bastards at The Welly By Becky Martin
Photographs by Kate Langan

Welly's packed tonight already as Dance Bastards hit the stage with their refreshing
brand of dirty electronic rap with a catchy bass that's to die for.
These two gorgeous girls are hypnotising the crowd not only with their sassy moves and
wrap around skirts, but with serious attitude from lead singer Kate who positively
screams girl power (way overdue!)
Read more...

No-one gives a crap about Your Codename Is: Milo as the crowd are buzzing with electricity
because they're itching for Enter Shikari and the mosh pits prepare themselves to mosh the
place into the ground with sweaty pent up energy.
The lights go out, the screams begin, they chant Shikari! in unison and with all the glow
sticks flying around it looks more like an
Read more...

Music Reviews - Thursday 8th March 07 - Franks E.P. Launch at The Adelphi with support From Lavellion By Michelle Dee Photos by Mo

I came into Adelphi still shaking my hair from the rain on a rather damp Thursday evening.
By the time I'd reached the bar I was shaking my thang to the cool metal outfit on stage.
Theirs was a name I'd heard being bandied about on Myspaz and seen on a couple of flyers.
I sat down with a pint of Deuchars and listened to the rowdy ear churning guitar and eye
Read more...

Music Reviews - Paparazzi Whore at Club NME at The Welly, Hull By Becky Martin
Photographs by Kate Langan

Welly in Hull's been around for a few years and through all the eyeliner, exaggerated hair,
skinny jeans and beer soaked t-shirts, it's seen enough emo bands, trashed dressing rooms and drunk indie guys to last a lifetime, but tonight was special as Paparazzi Whore took over the stage and set the place alight!
Bass driven??? Man! The speakers made
Read more...

Only a few days previous she'd been supporting country star Nanci Griffith, yet
Edwina Hayes was as down-to-earth as ever when she made a most welcome return to
Driffield Folk Club on Saturday night.
Mixing material from her debut album, Out On My Own, along with some fantastic cover
songs, Edwina's enchanting charms immediately had the Folk Club
Read more...

Music Reviews, Galleries -
Live Music - Friday 2nd February 07 - 59 Violets and Val Marshall at Barracuda Live Sessions By Michelle Dee

Sometimes we get photos without a review but they are just too good to miss out on publishing
so checkout this photo gallery of 59 Violets and
Val Marshall Friday 2nd February 07 - at
Barracuda Live Sessions By Michelle DeeRead more...

The band kick off the set with Plan A, Gerry on both vocals and keyboard for this one.
Rick, bass player, has now firmly established himself within the band with some pretty good
riffs it seems like he's always been there.
This song has slightly electro-pop undertones and wraps around you like a warm welcome.
Gerry announces a new
Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 13th February 07 - The Long Blondes and The Lodger At Club NME at The Welly By Becky Martin
Photographs by Kate Langan

The warm up band for The Long Blondes do exactly that tonight as Ben, Joe and
Katie of The Lodger hit us with their own brand of gentle indie.
Featuring Lets Make A Pact, Simply Left Behind and Kicking Sand energetic
guitars and expert drumming results in spreading happy feelings throughout
the packed dance floor. Following in the
Read more...

Music Reviews - 7th February 07 - Air Traffic and Snow Fight In The City Centre at The Lamp By Michelle Dee Photographs by Julia Grant

It's cold, wet and windy there's sharks on the TV but there's two new bands at
The Lamp in Hull. Sadly Ghosts cancelled last minute so that leaves us with the
shimmering Indie sounds of Manchester's Snowfight In The City Centre and
headliners Air Traffic, the piano soaked Indie band it's okay to like.
The former a six piece from Manchester
Read more...

It is just before midnight. Upstairs in the Welly Club on a Saturday night, the
crowd is buzzing with anticipation for the return of the Five O'Clock Heroes.
New DJ Kristian has been warming the crowd up with some Sunshine Underground and Larrikin Love.
The crowd moves forward en masse as the band takes to the stage. Lead singer
Anthony Ellis,
Read more...